Iovan played for several clubs, most notably Steaua București, and represented Romania 34 times between 1983 and 1990.

[1][2] Iovan made his debut at CSM Reşiţa in 1977, before joining the squad of Luceafărul București one year later.

Iovan returned to Reşiţa in 1979, but in the winter of 1981 joined Steaua București where he played for ten years, until 1991.

[2] In 1991 he joined the English club Brighton & Hove Albion, but returned to Steaua București in 1992 for half a season only before signing with Rapid Bucharest, then Electroputere Craiova in 1995.

He was champion of Divizia A on six occasions and also won the Romanian Cup three times, all with Steaua Bucharest.